Flotation and adsorption characteristics of albite and quartz with oleic acid-based collector

Abstract

The separation of feldspars from quartz is a challenging processing method as they have identical physical and physicochemical surface properties. To put forward the possible ways to separate them from each other is essential. Thus, from this point of view, this study aimed to determine the flotation behavior of both minerals with an oleic acid-based collector and its adsorption characteristics with both minerals. According to the results, the collector-treated albite displayed stronger characteristic adsorption FTIR bands of the CH2 group at 2957 cm−1, 2926 cm−1 and 2854 cm−1 than quartz. But, in contrast to the similar adsorption FTIR bands determined, albite and quartz presented selective flotation recovery results in at moderately alkaline environment. While 90% flotation recovery of albite could be obtained at certain pH conditions, less than 10% of quartz recovery was obtained regardless of collector concentration and pH. When the tapping mode AFM in the micro topographical aspect was correlated with the experimental data, the collector-treated albite, compared to the original albite sample, displayed collector adsorption patches with different intensities. However, quartz and collector-treated quartz samples displayed similar micro topographies which indicated no/low collector-quartz interaction.